CarBootJunction Blog

We're all in this together! But you know that already, after all the Prime Minister said so didn't he? That might be why, in these times of cut-backs, slow business and general belt-tightening for most of us one business sector is experiencing growth. I refer of course to our favourite weekend activity, Car Booting!

Can it really be a coincidence that as living costs rise and incomes shrink in real terms more and more people are realising that they have stuff in their lofts and garages or sheds that hasn't seen the light of day for years? Is it so surprising that it's now dawning on folk who would previously have never bothered to even think about it that someone else might actually have a use for this stuff and be prepared to pay money for it?

It cuts both ways of course. People still want to buy various items but they don't necessarily want to pay high prices for new when in many cases second-hand would do just as well if the price is right. Everyone loves a bargain, it's part of the human condition and always has been. That's not new. What is new is a heightened awareness of where to look for it.

Even people who have no interest in visiting or trading at car boot sales cannot fail to have noticed a gradual increase over recent years in the number of signs announcing such sales and indicating their whereabouts. In that way public awareness has been growing for some time. All that has happened more recently has been an upsurge in interest among people who have never previously given car-booting serious thought.

This is not speculation. The evidence is there for all to see. In March of this year, this very website showed an increase in traffic over last October's end of season figures of more than 50%! In fact since New Year over 550 new boot sales have been added or amended. Our search engine position has not changed dramatically. We are still number 1 for most terms. So the increase must mean that more people than ever are turning to car boot sales to convert unwanted goods into much needed cash.

When market traders, councils and others across all counties of the United Kingdom are publicly expressing concern about negative effects of the increased popularity of car boot sales you know the growth is real. Those concerns may be overlooking the benefits to local shops, pubs, cafes etc. of increased footfall when sales are held in town centre locations.

Whether the growth is all due to the nation's economic situation or not only time and more detailed investigation will tell. Britain's economic downturn may well not be the sole driving force behind the increased popularity of car boot sales but arguably it is a factor that cannot be ignored. All you car-boot devotees out there are undoubtedly doing your bit to help many people get through the hard times.

So, no real conclusions there then, just some musings about the growth in popularity of your favourite activity. Question is, what do you think?


This article was supplied by the Dorset copywriter, Pete Hopper at Write 4 You.